Corn planter

ABSTRACT

A seed planter of the type having an air pressured drum rotated about its axis by a trailer, which drum has a plurality of longitudinal rows of perforated pockets spaced evenly about the periphery of the drum. A plurality of separate rubber tired wheels are mounted on separate pivotal arms on the trailer frame for contacting selective peripheral rows of pockets denoting desired rows of seeds to be planted, whereby the blocked holes allow the seeds to be blown into discharge pipes leading to the furrows of the rows to be planted. Each arm is pivoted by a cable connected at one end to the arm and, at the other end to a control knob in the cabin of a tractor.

United States Patent [1 1 Neumeister CORN PLANTER [22] Filed: Mar. 19,1973 [21] Appl. No.: 342,465

[52] US. Cl. 221/211, 221/278 [51] Int. Cl. A016 7/04 [58] Field ofSearch.... 221/211, 278; 222/217, 220, 222/224, 222, 266; 243/16;111/74, 77

5/1973 Schlegel ..221/278 1 Feb. 5, 1974 l Primary Examiner-Stanley H.Tollberg Assistant Examiner-C. A. Marmor [57] ABSTRACT A seed planter ofthe type having an air pressured drum rotated about its axis by atrailer, which drum has a plurality of longitudinal rows of perforatedpockets spaced evenly about the periphery of the drum. A plurality ofseparate rubber tired wheels are mounted on separate pivotal arms on thetrailer frame for contacting selective peripheral rows'of pocketsdenoting desired rows of seeds to be planted, whereby the blocked holesallow the seeds to be .blown into discharge pipes leading to the furrowsof the rows to be planted. Each arm is pivoted by a cable connected atone end to the arm and, at the other end to a control knob in the cabinof a tractor.

.0 3 raw nefi erea. '7

This invention relates generally to a corn planter and, moreparticularly, to a control system for enabling selective planting of anyparticular row or plurality of novel corn planter that is devoid of theabovenamed disadvantage and which enables easy and speedy selection andcontrol for planting any one, two, three or more rows at any one time,therefore adding greatly to the versatility of planting.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel cornplanter with a plurality of individual controls for effecting selectivedrive by the corn seed drum by frictional means, whereby any particularrow or any number of rows may be selectively planted simultaneously. I

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study ofthe following description taken with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a planter embodying the principles ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, top view of a drive control therefor of thepresent invention; and i F IG. 3 is an elevational view of the drivecontrol.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, shows a4 or 6 row planter of the CYCLO type manufactured by InternationalHarvester Co. of Chicago', Ill. Numeral 1 generally denotes a seed drum,driven by the trailers which drums contains seeds 17, such as corn,milo, beans or other seeds, which drop out of a plurality ofcircumferentially disposed perfo rated pockets 2 along the periphery ofthe drum.

In accordance withthe present invention, a framework 3 is rigidlymounted on the trailer and has connected to the base thereof an angleiron 4 which supports a U-shaped guide 5 which serves to guide pivotalmovements of a bifurcated arm 6 on which one of the rubber-tired wheels7 is rotatably mounted. Rod 6 is pivoted on pivot pin 8. At theextremity of the rod there is provided a terminal 12 of a flexible rodwhich passes through tube' 11 having an extremity rigidly secured to thedash board 13 at the operators tractor seat. The extrernity of the rodis secured to a knob 14.

In operation, when knob 14 is pulled by the-operator so as to pull theflexible rod and its terminal 12, arm 6 will move upwardly to the dottedline position wherein wheel 7 is out of contact with the corn seed drum1 and no longer blocks the holes of the corresponding row. However, whenknob 14'is pushed inwardly to allow arm 6 to move from the dotted lineto the full line position, wheel 7 frictionally engages the corn seeddrum 1 so as to be frictionally driven and rotated thereby and block arow of holes in the pockets 2;

While only four wheels 7, having identical controls are shown in FIG. 2,it willbe readily apparent that one or two additional wheels withsimilar individual controls may be added. in each instance, it ispossible to selectively control the planting of any single row or anycombination of rows desired for simultaneous planting,-- such-as rows'1, 3 and 4 or only rows 1 and 2 etc.

The present control is flexible and positive inoperation, quicklyresponsive and relatively simple in construction,requiring little or nomaintenance.

Returning now to the general description of the CYCLO planter, air isharnessed to take seed from a master hopper 15, space it to give thepopulation desired and deliver it to the furrow (not shown). It plantsany size seed-corn, beans or rnilo through the same metering system.

v The air powered metering and delivery system essentially has threemoving parts: 1. a driven fan 16 that supplies about 10 ounces of airpressure to the seed drum 1. 2. a revolving seed drum 1, with six rowsof perforated pockets 2, that selects and spaces the seed. 2. rubber aircut-off wheels 7 that ride the top of the seed drum.

In the planting operation, seed, in just the proper amount, isautomatically fed into the bottom of the seed drum 1 through outlet 18of a chute 19 leading from the master hopper 15. The driven fan 16supplies air pressure to the enclosed revolving seed drum 1. The airpressure in the drum naturally escapes through the holes in the seedpockets 2. As it does so, it holds the seeds in the pockets 2 of therevolving drum. Just before the seed reaches the top of the revoluation,it passes a permanently mounted brush 20 that knocks off any excess seedthat may have collected in a seed pocket. At the top of its revolutionthe drum passes under the aircut-off wheels 7. The wheels that are movedinto frictional drive contact with drum 1 momentarily close theholes,block the escaping air and the seeds 17 are carried into thecorresponding seed tube manifold 21. Air pressure then carries them inspaced relationship through the corresponding seed tubes 22 and into thefurrow behind the .openers (not shown).

The seed is selected, released and ejected into the rows with clean,constant precision. There is no bounce or scatter of seed. The spacingor population is determined by the ground related speed of the seeddrum.

Thus it will be seen that l have provided an efficient control systemfor a corn planter, which controlsystem may be installed on a four rowInternational Harvester 400 CYCLE corn planter, or similar device such a6 or 8 row planter if a larger number of wheels 7 is used, to convertthe planter so that instead of planting all rows simultaneously, it willenable selective planting of any one row or any combination of rows,simulta neously.

While I have illustrated and described a single specific embodiment ofmy invention, it will be understood that this is by way of illustrationonly and that various changes and modifications may be contemplated inmy invention and within the scope of the following claims.

I claim;

1. In a seed planting trailer of the type having an air pressured drumdriven by said trailer about its axis, which drum has a plurality oflongitudinally extending rows of perforated pockets, evenly spaced aboutthe periphery of said drum and a plurality of seed discharging pipeswithin said drum extending from the top portion thereof and leading topositions on the trailer immediately above the spaced rows to beplanted; the im- 3 provement comprising a plurality of separate,pivotally mounted arms on the frame of said trailer, each arm havingrotatably mounted thereon a rubber-tired wheel for selective movement tothe top outer surface of the drum for closing and blocking escape of airthrough the contacting peripheral row of holes of said rows, controlmeans for selectively pivoting said arms into and out of contact withselected peripheral rows of pockets, whereby seeds will drop out of saidblocked pockets and will be blown by air pressure through said seeddischarging pipes to the selected rows to be planted.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said control means comprisesa plurality of flexible cables, each having one end connected to one endof the corresponding pivotal arm carrying a wheel and the other endconnected to a knob which may be pulled by the operator in the cabin ofa tractor to effect separation of the wheel from the drum, whereby theoperator may selectively move any one or a combination of said wheels soas to effect selective planting of one or a combination of rows,respectively.

1 I t k

1. In a seed planting trailer of the type having an air pressured drumdriven by said trailer about its axis, which drum has a plurality oflongitudinally extending rows of perforated pockets, evenly spaced aboutthe periphery of said drum and a plurality of seed discharging pipeswithin said drum extending from the top portion thereof and leading topositions on the trailer immediately above the spaced rows to beplanted; the improvement comprising a plurality of separate, pivotallymounted arms on the frame of said trailer, each arm having rotatablymounted thereon a rubber-tired wheel for selective movement to the topouter surface of the drum for closing and blocking escape of air throughthe contacting peripheral row of holes of said rows, control Means forselectively pivoting said arms into and out of contact with selectedperipheral rows of pockets, whereby seeds will drop out of said blockedpockets and will be blown by air pressure through said seed dischargingpipes to the selected rows to be planted.
 2. Apparatus as recited inclaim 1 wherein said control means comprises a plurality of flexiblecables, each having one end connected to one end of the correspondingpivotal arm carrying a wheel and the other end connected to a knob whichmay be pulled by the operator in the cabin of a tractor to effectseparation of the wheel from the drum, whereby the operator mayselectively move any one or a combination of said wheels so as to effectselective planting of one or a combination of rows, respectively.